Damon (The Protectors #1)(6)
“Well…there is that.” Nicole gave a nervous chuckle as she breezed past him, not wanting him to see how his closeness affected her. Man this was going to be a long day.
After stopping at the hospital to check on Sam, who had been happily eating ice cream, they had gone to the homes that Nicole had scheduled visits. Everything had gone well and everyone seemed to be happy with no problems. It has been a rare day. They were now heading back to the office.
“You love this job don’t you?” Damon glanced at her before turning his attention back to the road. He had insisted on driving after seeing her car. He had advised her that he would not step foot in the piece of crap she called a car. Nicole had to agree with him. It was a piece of crap and she would talk to Mitch first thing in the morning about a raise or company vehicle. Yeah....like that was going to happen.
“Yeah, I do.” She nodded then touched her black eye. “Does have its downfalls I guess, but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I just wish there was more I could do.”
“Like what? It seems like you are doing all that you can”
“No, not really. There's a war out there with this blood addiction stuff that needs to be stopped. I just wish I could have seen who else was in that basement yesterday. It could be a clue to whoever is behind all of this.”
“You are not to do anything about that.” Damon’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his voice hard. His alpha male protective instincts for this woman kicked into high gear.
“Listen, I don’t care if you come along and all that, but don't think to tell me what to do because I will do whatever the hell I want to do.” Nicole shot right back.
“Listen to me Nicole. We have been working this for a long time and this is something that is too dangerous to get involved in.” Damon's voice rumbled in warning.
“What do you mean get involved in?” She huffed turning completely in her seat to face him noting that his eyes were getting darker. “I am involved up to my eyeballs in this stuff. I want it stopped before more children get hurt.”
“And you don’t think we want it stopped. We have leads we are working on every day and the ones involved would rather kill you first and ask questions later.” His eyes seemed to go black as night as he slid a sideways glare at her.
“I know, but I am on the inside, so to speak. I hear a lot of stuff and could help out. Plus, you guys are teaching us how to protect ourselves.”
“No!” Damon growled. “Dammit Nicole, stay out of it. You don’t have a clue what you're getting yourself into.” He pulled into an empty parking space in front of her office.
Nichole had the door opened before he even stopped. “Yeah...whatever.” She leaped out of the car slamming the door.
“Damn!” Damon slammed his hands on the steering barely catching himself from saying the f-word. Shaking his head in disbelief he couldn't help the disgusted chuckle that escaped his lips. “After hundreds of years one small blonde woman has me calling f*ck the f-word. Yeah...some badass warrior I am.” He was truly screwed. Watching to make sure she made it to her car he backed out and headed to the warehouse.
Nichole could feel Damon glaring hotly at her as she ran her laps to warm up. She had lost her temper earlier and felt bad about it. She knew he was here to help them and they desperately needed these warrior’s help. Noticing he was standing alone she stopped in front of him. “Listen, I’m sorry about earlier. I tend to get a little defensive about my job. I’m not stupid and I know we need your help. It’s just I want to do everything I can to stop this.”
Damon nodded, his eyes back to their golden stage. “I understand your passion for what you do, but the deeper you involve yourself the more danger you place yourself in. You can't help anyone if you get yourself killed.”
“I have a lot of contacts.” Nicole glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was listening. “I hear a lot so if I hear anything I think will help I'll let you know and you can check it out. Does that sound fair?”
“As long as it does not put you in danger, then I will agree.” He nodded toward the middle of the mat. “Come on, you need to work on your ground fighting skills.”
Nicole tried not to stick her tongue out as he passed her. “Well, alrighty then.” She snorted, but followed him trying not to look at the way his workout pants clung to his tight butt.
Damon stopped in the middle of the mat and turned toward her. “Lay down and spread your legs.”
Nicole stopped suddenly her eyes shooting from his ass to his face. “Ah, most guys buy me a drink first.” At his raised eyebrow, Nichole snorted. “Okay. Sorry. Just a joke. You know you can probably buy a sense of humor on Craigslist.”
“There is nothing wrong with my sense of humor.” Once she was on the ground he knelt between her legs. “I just didn't find that funny.”
Nicole rolled her eyes then gasped when he grabbed both her wrists and held them above her head with one hand. “Hey!”
He leaned over her slightly putting some of his weight on her keeping her immobile. “Most confrontations you are going to face as a woman are going to end in this position. We have been showing you how not to end up here, but chances are you will end up here.” His eyes drilled into hers, his breath tickling her face. “I want you to try to get away from me however you think you can. Don't worry about hurting me.”